Cable tensioner

Abstract

A cable tensioner is provided including a spring having a first position, the spring operatively connectable to a cable conveyor system, and visually apparent indicia corresponding to a force applied to a cable of the cable conveyor system as a result of a spring deflection away from the first position, the force placing the cable of the cable conveyor system in tension.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cable tensioner comprising:
 an enclosure having an axis and having a cross section perpendicular to the axis; 
 a spring disposed in the enclosure, the spring having a first position, the spring operatively connectable to a cable conveyor system; and 
 visually apparent indicia corresponding to a force applied to a cable of the cable conveyor system as a result of a spring deflection away from the first position, the force placing the cable of the cable conveyor system in tension; 
 wherein the indicia comprises a band contained within the enclosure cross section and movable relative to an indicia window formed in the enclosure, a portion of the band corresponding to a magnitude of the cable tension, the band becoming visible in the indicia window in response to a desired cable tension magnitude. 
 
     
     
       2. The cable tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising a device operably connected to a drive unit of the cable conveyor system for discontinuing operation of the cable conveyor system in response to the cable tension being less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
       3. The cable tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising a device operably connected to a drive unit of the cable conveyor system for discontinuing operation of the cable conveyor system in response to the cable tension being less than a first predetermined value or greater than a second predetermined value or in response to a predetermined change in cable tension within a predetermined time. 
     
     
       4. The cable tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein the spring deflection is associated with a tensile force applied to the spring. 
     
     
       5. The cable tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein the spring deflection is associated with a compressive force applied to the spring. 
     
     
       6. The cable tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising a shim for selectively positioning the spring relative to the cable tensioner. 
     
     
       7. The cable tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising a device operably connected to the spring for selectively varying the spring deflection relative to the first position for maintaining the cable tension at at least a first predetermined value. 
     
     
       8. The cable tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising a device operably connected to a drive unit of the cable conveyor system adapted to change the spring deflection to maintain the cable tension between a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value. 
     
     
       9. The cable tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein the band includes a self-contained illumination source. 
     
     
       10. The cable tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein the band is composed of a reflective material. 
     
     
       11. The cable tensioner of  claim 10 , wherein the reflective material is visually apparent at at least 40 feet in combination with an illumination source of 50 lumens. 
     
     
       12. The cable tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising an adjustment feature for varying the spring deflection relative to the first position. 
     
     
       13. The cable tensioner of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustment feature includes a pair of jam nuts. 
     
     
       14. A method of maintaining a cable conveyor system comprising:
 providing an enclosure having an axis and having a cross section perpendicular to the axis; 
 operatively connecting a spring to a cable conveyor system, the spring disposed in the enclosure, the spring having a first position; 
 installing a visually apparent indicia corresponding to a force applied to a cable of the cable conveyor system as a result of a spring deflection away from the first position, the force placing the cable of the cable conveyor system in tension, wherein the indicia comprises a band contained within the enclosure cross section and movable relative to an indicia window formed in the enclosure, a portion of the band corresponding to a magnitude of the cable tension, the band becoming visible in the indicia window in response to a desired cable tension magnitude; and 
 monitoring the indicia. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein monitoring the indicia includes operably connecting a device to the spring for selectively varying the spring deflection relative to the first position for maintaining the cable tension at at least a first predetermined value. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein monitoring the indicia includes operably connecting a device to the spring for selectively varying the spring deflection relative to the first position for maintaining the cable tension between a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the band is composed of a reflective material. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the band includes a self-contained illumination source.